Always good to appear in the local press!!
A SOUTH Cumbria-based training company has been nominated for two prestigious awards this month (April 2026).
A new hardback edition of The Leadership Book, by Leader-Connect founder Neil Jurd OBE, has been nominated in the leadership category for the Business Book of the Year 2026 award.
The guide on how to lead and making leadership simple, with explanations on what to do to become an effective leader, has sold 9,000 copies across the world.
The winners of the awards, organised by ‘The Book Publicist’, will be announced later this year.
Leader-Connect also been nominated twice for Best Teacher Development Initiative by the Times Educational Supplement.
The nominations come from the Abingdon Learning Trust in Oxfordshire and Dallam School in Milnthorpe, Cumbria.
Mr Jurd has enrolled 40 senior leaders from the Abingdon Trust, which runs four schools, in his on-line learning site, run two training days and one-to-one coaching sessions for its heads and deputy heads, as well as working with governors.
A similar programme has been run with Dallam, with head teacher Steve Henneberry who took over the school in summer 2025.
Leader-Connect is running an Institute of leadership accredited course for the top 20 leaders in the school.
Course includes a copy of the book, access to the online learning site, two training days, and two one-to-one coaching sessions per teacher.
A survey of the school’s 100 staff showed a 26% improvement rating for leadership rating after less than one year of the two-year programme.
Asked why he nominated Leader-Connect, Mr Henneberry said: “Strong schools are built on strong leadership. If we want students to feel they belong, learn and thrive, then the adults in the building have to feel that same sense of purpose and confidence in their work.
“The programme with Neil Jurd and Leader-Connect has given our leadership team the opportunity to step back, reflect and grow together.
“It has helped our leaders think more deeply about how they support colleagues, how they build trust and how they create the conditions where great teaching can flourish.
“What I have valued most is the difference it has made to the way our leaders work with their teams.
“Conversations are now more thoughtful, more developmental and more focused on helping people be their best. Staff feel more supported and more connected to our vision as a school community.
“When leadership becomes more purposeful and aligned, it changes the culture of the whole organisation, and ultimately that is what allows our students to truly belong here, learn here and thrive here.”
Independent research by Newcastle University Management School reported learning leadership for the top quarter of staff in schools is equivalent to two extra terms of teaching for pupils by the time they leave school.
Mr Jurd, aged 56 and from Kendal, says: “Where you get effective leaders in schools, it makes a massive difference.
“It can transform schools, freeing up decision-making, creative thinking to address challenges creatively and opportunities for the children beyond the curriculum.
“It shifts the mindset of people in schools in ways that benefits pupils immensely.
“It reduces turnover of staff, including head teachers. The current duration of head teacherships is around 38% of secondary heads leave within 5 years. It should be nearer ten.
“Good leadership leads to functioning, friendly staff rooms. Good leadership brings organisations to life with the emphasis on positivity.”
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